Bosco Dog Blog

I think it is funny how Joan and I are the same in our looks. I don't mean she is brown and furry - she is actually nearly albino since she lives in such a northern climate! But I mean our youthful looks. A few days ago, a man on a bike yelled out to me (and Joan), "What a beautiful puppy!" First, I have to say that I am delighted that I get compliments and that I make people smile. When we go on walks, some of the people that walk by look at me and say how pretty I am or they just smile at me. But, back to my topic, these people also think I am a puppy! I am over 4 years old!!! They might make this mistake because I am so energetic or because I am on the small side (50 lbs). Usually, people don't notice that I'm part doberman and a full-bred chocolate lab would be larger than I am. So they think I'm young! When Joan says I'm 4, they think 4 months! Ha ha.

My point, though, is that Joan is also mistaken to be younger than she actually is. On her way out to visit her parents who live near a university, she told me how someone on the plane asked her if she was a college student. She was laughing hard - because she actually is a university professor. Ha ha!!! So I think she and I can relate each other about our youthful looks. We don't mind though!

It would be funny to imagine Joan with brown fur all over her and a tail! Then we'd really be similar!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sunday was great. I'm so glad Joan is home. She spent most of the day outside, cleaning the yard - raking up a lot of leaves in the planting beds. Accordingly, I also spent the whole day outside with her! I was lounging in the sun and grass, on my back, side, tummy etc. while she worked away. Tim saw me and gave me a treat from his pocket - that guy! I wag my tail so hard when I see him because he always brings me treats. To think, I used to be scared of him!

In the afternoon, after our walk, I went into the yard and there was a squirrel on the fence. I quickly ran after it and jumped after up, up onto the fence. Then it went over toward the garage, and I kept jumping up on the fence. Then the fence post moved forward and the gate came unlatched...I could have escaped into the alley, but I didn't. Then Joan went over to examine the fence and now she has to add another "to-do" on her long list of chores. All because of me. Ha ha.

We were both so tired after our long day outside, we took naps. However, I kept hearing things outside and had to run over to the window to see what was going on outside. On the way back to my bed, I'd go over and sniff Joan but I did not lick her - I just let her sleep. It is interesting how tired I get when I don't sleep all day, like I usually do when Joan is at work.

THEN, last night I was sleeping downstairs like usual. But in the middle of the night, really loud thunder and bright lightning started. I was very scared, so I went up to Joan's bedroom. She heard me and put out her hand to pet me on the head. Then I slept in her room for the rest of the night until around 5 am when one of my ears starting itching me a ton, and I kept shaking my head and scratching my ear. I woke Joan up. I guess it wasn't her best night of sleep. She cleaned my ear again and all is well.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have missed Joan this week. Boy oh boy, on Monday - actually, on Sunday I knew something was up when that zipper box on wheels - which she refers to as a suitcase - came out. I went up the stairs in my usual exuberant way and then, I saw IT! I sniffed it and then walked slowly into the bedroom where there was another ONE. I got sad then because I knew Joan was going away.

So Joan got up very early - so early on Monday that I didn't even want to be up, and she even took me on a walk at 4:30 AM! You know me, though, if a walk is involved then I'm game. Then she left :-(

However, Doris came over and let me out at lunchtime and then Ellen came over later to take me to her house that I went to last week. Ah ha! Now I know why we went over there. I thought Joan just wanted me to be friends with a new cat. I was very scared at first - I don't know Ellen all that much and then her apartment and area is unfamilar to me, and there are kids around, and they sometimes scare me because they move so fast. But as the days went along, I started to feel a bit better. Ellen and Katie's cat wasn't too happy about me being there, but I just stayed out of its way as best I could.

Today, Ellen put me in the car and drove me back home. I was SOOOOO excited, bouncing up and down so happy to return to my beloved home. BUT Joan was not here, but I felt pretty safe anyway because I knew she'd be here soon enough. And she is here now!!! I licked her a few times to let her know how I felt and she pet me and gave me a few treats. So much emotion in one week's time that I'm knackered. Guess I'll retire now - you can bet I'll sleep up in Joan's room again - I don't want to risk her leaving again....

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I got to swim for the first time this season. Joan took lots of pictures - some of which you will see below. Yesterday Joan worked for some of the day and then we went to the dog park, then to Dairy Queen (not for me), and then to Joan's office (not for me), and then back home!!

Today we went for an hour long walk during which it started raining and thundering. I was a bit scared of the thunder, but the rain doesn't bother me at all! But Joan says I'm a bit dog smelly like wet dog right now.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 07:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My ears are starting to bother me again. Last night I was shaking my head so much, and then I went upstairs and Joan said, "guess what we have to do?" I thought she meant go for a walk. But she meant go downstairs and clean my ears. I haven't even gone swimming yet, but these dangly ears I have trap moisture I guess any 'ol time.

Today I was nice to Joan because she came home sad. One of the older ladies she reads to passed away this week, and she just found out tonight. The woman was Joan's #1 fan and a delightful woman. Her name was Helen. Anyway, I can always tell when Joan is sad or upset, and I just am super nice to her. Sometimes I lick her if she's really upset because I don't like it. But usually, I just sit really nice in front of her to show her that I'm here for her, just like when she's here for me - like when she cleans my ears or gets sticks out of my mouth!

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This morning, Joan got up and ready for work and then we went for a walk. I thought this would be any normal walk like we usually do, but it wasn't. We walked a few blocks and then backtracked and then went out to Lake Street and crossed the parking lot near the vet. I was trying to hurry by the vet shop in my usual way, but Joan made me go in there. Sometimes we just go in there to get a treat and weigh me, but today it was different.

Well, first she did weight me. 46.7 lbs! But then Joan was talking with the woman behind the desk and then we went into a smaller room. I don't like these small rooms. I can hear all sorts of noises. Then two people came in - a man and woman. The woman bent down and was friendly to me. The man was talking to Joan.

Then the woman put me up on the table and the man checked me over. He told Joan that I was in great shape and that my weight was just perfect. The woman complimented my soft fur. The man told Joan I should get my teeth cleaned. Then OUCH he gave me a shot and then OUCH he took blood from my leg! Then Joan told the man that I eat bunny poop in the backyard. That Joan! She revealed my secret. The woman said, "oh, yum, yum." See, she knows! So then after Joan paid the $100 bill for about 10 minutes of interaction, we left and continued our walk.

Tonight Joan and I went on an hour-long walk again. I love that! I get to smell things all along the river. Now I'm sitting in her office while she works, but the window to the backyard is open and I can hear Tim, the neighbor, and his family talking out on their patio. I like Tim - he gives me treats out of his pocket and pets me a bunch. Anyway, that's it for now.

Oh - the only thing is on Sunday we went over to one of Joan's swimming buddies' house - Ellen. I'm not sure why we went over there. But we hung out in her apartment - I saw she has a cat - and I saw a bowl full of chocolate Easter eggs and then we left. Maybe we'll go there again.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 08:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I haven't posted a picture of myself lately, and this morning Joan caught me up to my old tricks - chewing on sticks. Hey, I'm a retriever - when I get excited the first thing I do is look for something to get and bring back to you.

I'm enjoying my backyard more and more with the nicer weather.

Posted by Joan Hughes at 11:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)